Most Innovative Traditional Swiss Restaurant 2023 – Lucerne

Posted on 9th May 2023

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Located in one of the oldest and most historic buildings in Lucerne’s old town, Bündnerland Luzern offers space for up to 80 guests over three rustic, winding floors. The late Middle Ages seeps out of every slanted angle and gable of the restaurant’s old half-timbered building, which even features the original stable door, enabling it to blend in perfectly with the rest of the city’s stunning medieval architecture.

The pride and joy of award-winning young chef and owner, Fabian Dumitrache, Bündnerland Luzern offers the perfect fusion of traditional and modern in a unique gastro dining experience to be savoured.

Fabian Dumitrache’s passions lie in the Graubünden mountains, the city of Lucerne, and, of course, cuisine. After several years of cooking in a grand hotel in Flims and being the youngest ‘smutje’ of all time on the MS Europa II cruise ship, as well as a former member of the Swiss national team of chefs, he soon decided that his true desire was to offer his favourite dishes to his favourite city.

So, with a leap of faith, Fabian and his team were able to take over the empty, rural restaurant at Eisengasse 15 in Lucerne’s old town. Now, locals and tourists alike can experience alpine cosiness and the delicious flavours of Switzerland that are made a reality thanks to Fabian’s creative and specialist experimentation with the freshest of ingredients. This is done from the restaurant’s recently modernised kitchen which has been brought up-to-date with the latest technology, ensuring the team’s efficiency and giving the menu a real kick.

This menu is graced by a variety of delicious traditionally Swiss dishes, which can be available vegetarian and vegan on request, including pizokel (a vegetarian dish made out of curd dough scraped into thick pieces with cream from Molki Stans, Bündner mountain cheese, and vegetables, with fried chicken breast strips), maluns (a vegetarian dish made out of potato dough dumplings with Bündner mountain cheese and homemade applesauce), and capuns (spaetzli dough filled with bacon, salsiz, and raw ham coated with chard in a hay sauce, cooked with Bündner mountain cheese and Bündnerfleisch strips). Notably, the restaurant also offers the ultimate Swiss dish, The Three Alliances, which – you guessed it – features all three: pizokel, maluns, and capuns.

With courage and innovation, Fabian’s mouth-watering dishes come to life, with vegetarian and vegan options available as well as gluten-free, so everyone is welcome to experience the delightful tastes of Bündnerland Luzern. The team are able to freshly bake bread, including gluten-free bread, in 10 minutes, as well as serve a range of gluten-free meals such as the appetizer, Fabian’s Mici, which is baked beef sticks with raclette and a mild mustard dip, a favourite dish of Fabian from his childhood with Swiss influence.

One guest couldn’t get enough of this dish, saying, “A fabulous way to start my culinary visit in Lucerne. Fabian’s Mici was a delightful appetizer and meal; the bread was so perfect to accompany the glass of lovely Zurich Weiss white wine. Ambiance was genuine.”

These gloriously traditional dishes appear on the menu alongside a range of burgers, salads, cheese fondues, soups, flatbreads, and more. Then come the classics: beef tenderloin in the form of young Swiss premium cattle served on a hot stone for self-cooking with three different dips, hashbrowns, and lettuce; pork entrecôte aged on the bone, also served on a hot stone, with three different dips, market vegetables, and fried pizokel; bratwurst pork sausage aged on the bone with onion sauce, fried potatoes, and lettuce; and breaded pork schnitzel gratinated with tomatoes and Bündner mountain cheese with a leaf salad and hashbrowns.

Then for those who like to end their meal with something sweet, Bündnerland Luzern offers a variety of decadent Swiss desserts to leave one feeling satisfied. All of these desserts feature quality fresh cream provided by small Swiss dairy company, Molki Stans, as well as ice cream. First on the list is the Kaiserschmarrn from Graubünden, without sultanas but with cinnamon, almonds, and homemade applesauce. Also available are caramel patties, and warm white and dark chocolate cake, baked fresh in about eight minutes. Last but certainly not least, guests can opt for just ice cream, whether vanilla, chocolate, marzipan sour cherry, café crème, chocolat blanc croquant, strawberry, lemon, raspberry, or plum.

Just the sound of these dishes may have your mouth watering, and this highly appetising offering of Bündnerland Luzern is in fact award-winning. No stranger to an accolade, Bündnerland Luzern was named Best of Swiss Gastro 2022 (https://bestofswissgastro.ch/de/guide/restaurant-bundnerland-luzern-luzern-6004/), being the only restaurant to achieve this title in that year, as well as only the third restaurant ever to bring this coveted first prize to Lucerne. Now, the restaurant celebrates more success with its recognition within LUXlife’s Restaurant and Bar Awards 2023, another highly deserved accomplishment that reflects the level of passion and expertise that goes into each and every course served by the team.

Alongside this recognition comes rave reviews from those who have experienced Bündnerland Luzern first-hand, the guests, who have rated it 5.9 stars overall for ambience, food and drinks, and service. One person shared their pleasure by saying, “Anyone who wants to enjoy surprisingly good Bündner specialties in Lucerne have come to the right place. The dessert menu also leaves nothing to be desired.”

Equally elated, another shares, “When I was looking for a small and cosy restaurant for a cheese fondue, I came across the Bündnerland restaurant. There are four fondues to choose from and it tasted excellent. The other dishes on the menu, such as capuns and pizokel, also very tasty. I can fully recommend this small and fine restaurant.”

Also overjoyed, someone else comments, “The host was very friendly, courteous, and served with a good sense of humour. Two tables were set up in the small “Stübli” for our group of six people. I really enjoyed the food and you could tell that it was fresh, and above all, did justice to the Graubünden style.”

A couple found it to be the perfect eatery for an evening out, too, saying, “We spent a very nice, romantic evening as a couple: excellent food, fantastic wine recommendations, a modern yet cosy ambience – and the best, friendliest service imaginable! Thank you for a lovely evening!”

Indeed, not only can guests not get enough of the food, but also the exceptional service delivered by the team. And it doesn’t end there. Bündnerland Luzern also offers Graubünden-style events, inviting the hosting of up to 80 guests at the venue, whether wedding, christening, birthday party, staff party – whatever the occasion, Fabian and the team believe there is always a reason to celebrate. They are happy to advise personally according to the client’s unique requirements, offering food and drinks according to their wishes, and always to meet their budget.

And thanks to the restaurant’s central location, all guests will be able to easily find their way to the celebration and back home again. For those guests who don’t live local, Bündnerland Luzern has five cosy rooms available in its old town house for overnight stays with space for up to 12 guests. At a fair price, its modern rooms invite guests for a comfortable stay in the middle of Lucerne’s old town. However, the restaurant is currently unable to offer breakfast inhouse, but can recommend the Heini bakery and confectionery, which is only a two-minute walk away.

When Bündnerland Luzern’s guests aren’t enjoying the comforts of their room or tucking into a delicious meal, they can venture out to explore the must-see landmarks and nature of Lucerne, featuring charming medieval architecture sitting on the edge of the clear blue Lake Lucerne, amid snow-capped mountains. Visitors can get lost in the rich history and culture, with a few places worth visiting including The Lion Monument and the nearby Glacier Garden, Musegg Wall, the Chapel Bridge, Hofkirche, and many more.

There is also a variety of exciting activities to take part in, whether a scenic Lake Lucerne boat ride; a stroll along the lakeside promenade lined with trees, cafes, and playgrounds; hiking, skiing, or taking a cogwheel train ride with panoramic mountain views; or pottering around the brightly coloured cobblestone shopping streets.

After a fun, and perhaps exhausting day of discovering Lucerne, guests can retreat to their room at Bündnerland Luzern, or having worked up an appetite, indulge in a hearty Swiss meal at the restaurant.

Ultimately, there’s no denying the all-round extraordinary experience provided by Fabian Dumitrache and the team at Bündnerland Luzern, whether it’s through food, service, events, or accommodation. And Fabian is certainly showing no signs of stopping any time soon, his ambition shining through in everything he does. Looking ahead, the future is no doubt bright for Fabian and his restaurant, and we are rooting for his continued success.

For business enquiries, contact Fabian Dumitrache from Bündnerland Luzern via email – [email protected] or on their website – https://buendnerland-luzern.ch/